News

Following yesterday’s release of OS X Yosemite, Apple has released updates to its three iOS iWork apps—Pages, Numbers, and Keynote—adding support for iCloud Drive and the new iOS 8 and Yosemite Handoff feature. The updates also include support for third-party storage providers in iOS 8 and note “updated file formats” that make it easier to send documents via services such as Drobox and Gmail. Additional new features have also been added such as more color options with a custom color mixer in the iPad versions, the ability to take photos and videos directly from within the apps, and accessibility, usability, and language improvements. Keynote also introduces a feature that allows users to pair with nearby iOS devices using Multipeer Connectivity.

Autodesk SketchBook Mobile (Free) — A new follow-up app to Autodesk’s highly popular original SketchBook app, this entirely new version is a complete from-the-ground up rewrite designed to unite the mobile experience across both the iPhone and iPad, allowing digital artists to capture inspiration on the go. The new SketchBook Mobile features an enhanced drawing toolkit including new layer blending modes, improved selection tools for manipulating, transforming and drawing ins specific parts of an image, and a whole new set of synthetic and smudge brushes along with great new fill tools including advanced gradients. In addition, the app has also been optimized for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

TeleStory ($3) — From LaunchPad Toys, the creators of Toontastic, this new app is designed to allow kids to use their iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to easily create and broadcast their own TV show. Kids can choose from a wide variety of themes such as music, space, or reality TV and then mix and match over 30 animated scenes and 50 digital costumes that track the user’s face to record their own TV show, and even add special effects along the way. Users can craft their own script either from scratch or using a provided collection of TV tropes, and then broadcast their final creation to LaunchPad’s “ToonTube” network to share with other kids around the world.

Adobe has introduced its Creative Cloud mobile apps, a suite of nine apps in four categories now available in the App Store. Many of the apps work in tandem, while Adobe’s Creative Profile connects users to their works, whether in mobile or desktop apps. Some of the apps have been updated from past versions, while others are completely new. All of the iOS apps require a Creative Cloud membership — the free membership offers 2GB of Creative Cloud storage.

Post-it Plus (free) — This is a clever little app developed directly by 3M, maker of the iconic Post-it notes, designed to take your Post-its into the digital realm. With this app you can simply take a snapshot of a board filled with up to 50 Post-it notes and then individually rearrange and organize them in any way — you can group them into categories, or even combine notes from multiple sessions. The organized board can be shared with other users on your team who can work with the notes collaboratively, or you can export your board to apps such as Powerpoint, Excel, Dropbox, or PDF.

FitPort ($2) — If you’ve spent any time in the iOS 8 HealthKit app, you’ve probably discovered that while it’s a nice way to collect your health and fitness information in one place, it doesn’t offer a lot of flexibility for displaying that info. FitPort is a new app that aims to fill in some of those gaps by providing a “fitness dashboard” that will give you a straightforward and beautifully presented overview of your stats, taken right from the iOS Health app and iPhone sensors. Categories of information include steps, walking and running distance, cycling distance, calories, weight, and more, and iPhone 6 and 6 Plus users can even see data on flights of stairs climbed courtesy of the new barometric pressure sensor.

OmniFocus 2 for iPad ($40)—A long-awaited iPad refresh of the popular power-user productivity app. While OmniGroup came out with an updated, iOS 7-ified version of OmniFocus 2 for iPhone last year, the already more feature-rich iPad app lagged a bit, retaining its iOS 6 style UI, but remaining compatible with the OmniFocus suite of products. The new update features a meticulously revamped UI similar to that found in the iPhone and Mac versions, unifying the design language across the entire collection of apps. The iOS 8 extensions introduced to the iPhone version earlier this month are also here, allowing access to your OmniFocus tasks from the Today view, and the ability to create new entries from other apps like Safari using the iOS 8 Sharing extension. Users of the iPad version can now also create custom perspectives right on their iPad without having to rely on the Mac version, with combinations of view settings, searches, and filters to layout tasks in the most efficient manner for your own individual workflow.

Transmit ($10)—The highly acclaimed Mac FTP client comes to iOS, with an elegant UI design and support for the latest iOS 8 features such as Touch ID security, and the ability to share data to Transmit from other iOS apps, such as uploading your photos directly to your SFTP server. Even cooler, users with Transmit installed can open and use files directly from Transmit sources like FTP and WebDAV servers when using other compatible apps like Apple’s Pages, Numbers, or Keynote; files will automatically and silently be uploaded back to the original server when saved. All of the important file management features are here as well: you can transfer files, create folders, rename files, delete files, and even set permissions.

Manual - Custom Exposure Camera ($2)—This is a cool new little app that shows off—as the name implies—the manual camera controls now available in iOS 8. The app provides full independent control of settings such as shutter speed, ISO, white balance, focus, and exposure compensation in a quick and easy-to-use UI. Two grids are available—Rule of Thirds and square—and you can also monitor exposure values in real-time, toggle the LED flash on for “fill” purposes, and save photos directly to your Camera Roll.

Other than the new Health and Tips apps from Apple — check out our recent iOS 8 Instant Expert article for more details — the most notable new apps this week are third-party keyboards which can be used in iOS 8. We’ve started testing the keyboards, but we’ve run into a number of bugs early on. Look for a more detailed piece later.

New Games

Epic Zen Garden (free) — Epic Zen Garden from Epic Games was first seen at Apple’s WWDC in June, meant to show off Unreal Engine 4 and Apple’s Metal, a new system designed to improve graphics and processing in iOS games. We tried Epic Zen Garden on an iPhone 5s, and it did look nice, and the effects were impressive enough, but it’s barely a game. Download it just to get a hint of what Metal might have to offer down the line, but don’t feel bad about deleting it from your iPhone or iPad after 10 minutes or so.

Apple’s iLife and iWork iOS apps will come pre-installed on the 64GB and 128GB iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, 9to5Mac has discovered. The apps include iMovie, GarageBand, Keynote, Pages, Numbers, and iTunes U. iPhoto isn’t included, as Apple is getting rid of it — the app won’t even load on iOS 8 devices. New 16GB iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus units won’t come with the apps, but they can be downloaded from the App Store for free, as usual. It’s unclear whether users will be able to delete the pre-installed apps if they do not want them.

The Met (free) — The country’s largest art museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, has released its own official app — The Met. A great starting point for visiting the museum, the app lets users browse listings of current exhibitions and daily events. Museum admission, membership, and event tickets can all be purchased from the app, as well. Though it’s best for visitors, The Met will likely be of interest to many art fans, as the attractive app lets users learn about highlighted works. Now it just needs a museum map.

Star Walk Kids ($3) — Following the recent release of Star Walk 2, Vito Technology has released Star Walk Kids, a new version of the astronomy guide just for kids. You can tell the difference from the get-go, as his version has a simpler, cartoonish style. The children’s app also comes with short animated films and voice narration.

Fireproof Games has announced that The Room Three will hit the App Store in spring 2015. An early announcement, The Room Three is sure to be a highly anticipated title as the newest game in the popular atmospheric puzzle series. The Room Two was released late last year, and The Room (reviewed here) was first released in 2012. Fireproof says the newest Room game “promises to evolve the mysterious story and take puzzle solving to higher and weirder places than ever before.”

Apple has updated its App Store Guidelines ahead of its upcoming release of iOS 8 and iPhone 6. The updated introduction notes that “If your App doesn’t do something useful, unique or provide some form of lasting entertainment, or if your app is plain creepy, it may not be accepted.” Guidelines have been added for Extensions, HomeKit, HealthKit, and TestFlight. The new guidelines should alleviate some users’ fears about the new frameworks — HealthKit apps cannot store information in iCloud or share data with third parties without user consent, among other measures. Additionally, data gathered from HealthKit and HomeKit cannot be used for advertising or data mining purposes.

Along with the updated guidelines, Apple recently added a page to its developer site detailing common app rejections. The page reveals that “more information needed” was the most common reason for apps to be rejected in the seven-day period ending August 28 — the top 10 reasons for rejection within that time period are all included on the page.

Hyperlapse from Instagram (free) — Instagram’s Hyperlapse is a new app that seems like it could become a sensation. Users can quickly create time lapse videos with the app. It works amazingly well — you can shoot while stationary or in motion — and the app clearly shows users how much time an accelerated video will actually take to watch once the time lapse is complete. A hyperlapse video can go up to 12 times normal speed, enabling users to show a lot of action in a short amount of time. The effect is very impressive for a free app. It’s simple to use, and no sign up or account is required, so we highly recommend downloading Hyperlapse to see what the fuss is all about. Next month, iOS 8 will introduce an integrated time lapse video recording feature with comparatively limited settings.

Mobile Passport (free) — Airside Mobile’s new Mobile Passport app, which is officially approved by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, allows users to enter the U.S. faster. You’ll be able to skip the regular line upon returning from abroad, as the app “effectively replaces” the traditional declaration form required of all travelers entering the U.S. by air. Both U.S. and Canadian citizens are eligible to use the app. Currently, the service is only available at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, with more supported locations to follow in the future. Keep in mind that the app is not a replacement for your passport.

Poppy Cat and the Bubble Volcano ($3) — The prolific StoryToys returns with another storybook app, Poppy Cat and the Bubble Volcano. Featuring the popular Poppy Cat, the app features a variety of games and activities. It’s similar to other StoryToys apps, but it’s definitely worth a look if your kid is into Poppy Cat — the app features sound effects and music from the show, and illustrations are based on the TV show’s animation.

The legendary Pac-Man returns for his newest adventure, Bandai Namco’s Pac-Man Friends ($5) for iOS. Pac-Man Friends is a new, original game that uses tilt controls to get Pac-Man and his buddies past the ghosts to the goal. Though the game does share some common elements with other Pac-Man classic games, Pac-Man Friends is ultimately a departure from the traditional style.

The gameplay in Pac-Man Friends is reminiscent of a wooden labyrinth game, as players tilt their iOS devices to guide the big yellow guy and his friends through the levels. There are five different control modes — four are tilt modes, and one is a touch mode. We found the touch mode to be much different than the preferable tilt control options, but it’s always nice to have options.

Apple has removed the app Secret from the Brazilian App Store, according to 9to5Mac. A Brazilian judge recently ordered the removal, after ruling that the app violates an article in the Brazilian constitution which prohibits anonymous freedom of expression. The judge also ordered that Apple must remotely disable the app from users’ phones, but it’s unclear whether the company will proceed with that step. Secret allows users to write and share anonymous posts with people nearby.

Lytro Mobile App (free) — Lytro has relaunched its Lytro Mobile App. The new app is universal, and allows users to interact with Lytro’s “living pictures” through various gestures. Both the old app and the new app are free, so if you’re a Lytro user, there’s no reason not to download this new edition. For the best viewing experience, iPhone 5s, iPad Air, and iPad mini with Retina display are recommended.

Star Walk 2 ($3) — Vito Technology’s Star Walk 2 is the sequel to the popular Star Walk app, which allows users to point their iPhone or iPad to the sky for information on constellations and astronomical data in real time. The new app offers a new design with a cleaner interface, new visual and sound effects, and 3D models of celestial bodies which are available through in-app purchase. For those who enjoy the original app, Star Walk 2 is worth the upgrade — the interface is gorgeous. Anyone with even a passing interest in astronomy should grab Star Walk 2.

Quick, easy-to-play games have always been popular on iOS, but the success of Flappy Bird and others seems to have further emphasized the “quick.” Pako - Car Chase Simulator ($2) by Tree Men Games certainly has more detail and thought than most of those titles, but we’re still talking about a game in which each round lasts not minutes, but seconds. It’s on sale for $1 for a limited time.

Pako is a basic-looking game that will remind some of the early Grand Theft Auto games, with a fun premise — you’re driving a car, so try not to crash. Yes, the police are chasing you, but the levels will give you enough of a challenge on their own without that hot pursuit. That’s due to the control scheme — tapping the left side of the screen turns left, tapping the right side turns right. And that’s it. Your car automatically travels at a steady speed. There is no braking, no going in reverse. If you’re going to swerve into a wall, you’re already too late.

Hanx Writer (free) — Hanx Writer from Hitcents.com is a new writing app designed to mimic the experience of a typewriter on an iPad. Also, it was created by actor and noted typewriter aficionado Tom Hanks. Documents can be emailed, printed, and shared like any other, except that writing them will give you all the sounds and animations of a traditional typewriter. The app offers use of the Hanx Prime Select typewriter for free, and users can make in-app purchases to use different “typewriters.”

Sago Mini Friends ($3) — Sago Sago’s newest childrens’ app is Sago Mini Friends. It features characters from a few of the developer’s other games. Kids pick from one of five friendly animals, and visit the homes of the other characters to participate in very simple mini games. For those familiar with Toca Boca’s exploration apps such as Toca Town or Toca House, think of Sago Mini Friends as a more basic version of those, but for younger children.

Activision has announced the Skylanders Trap Team Starter Pack for iPad ($75). The newest video game in the popular Skylanders series features a special tablet edition that includes a wireless portal and wireless game controller, in addition to game figurines. For those unaware of the Skylanders series, the game uses real-life figurines that can be controlled within gameplay by use of an NFC-enabled portal; the iPad edition will use a Bluetooth LE portal and Bluetooth LE controller. Third-party controllers are said to work as a secondary controller in multiplayer mode. The pack will be released on October 5. [via FamilyGamerTV]

Rules! ($2) is a new puzzle game from TheCodingMonkeys. A polished puzzler, Rules! looks to establish ground in the competitive and crowded territory of casual puzzle games on iOS.

Grabbing early attention hasn’t seemed to be a problem for Rules!, as it’s catapulted to the top of the puzzle game charts and has hit the top ten for all games. It’s a quick-play puzzler which, at first glance, will remind some gamers of the equally exclamatory Threes!— but it has unique gameplay of its own. Developers TheCodingMonkeys may be best-known for converting board games Carcassonne and Lost Cities into iOS games.

Daniel Tiger’s Grr-ific Feelings ($3) — PBS Kids has just released Daniel Tiger’s Grr-ific Feelings. The app, based on the show Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, has a variety of activities for youngsters. Kids can draw, play mini-games, step into the feelings photo booth, or sing along to their favorite songs from the show — all concentrating on different feelings. This is a well done app with lots of content and great voicework; the activities are intuitive, even for younger children. If you’ve got a Daniel Tiger fan in the house, they’ll enjoy Grr-ific Feelings.

NFL Now (free) — The NFL has released its anticipated NFL Now app, also expected soon as an Apple TV channel. Until then, the iOS app allows for AirPlay to an Apple TV. NFL Now claims to offer “hundreds” of new videos daily in a personalized stream. Currently, fantasy football and training camp videos are the focus. Users view the app’s content in portrait mode, and the app automatically switches to landscape mode for video. Only some content is available for free — full highlights and unlimited access to the NFL Films library cost $2 a month for USA, Mexico, and UK users, and $5 a month for the rest of the world.

Foursquare Labs has updated its free Foursquare iOS app to version 8.0. As expected, the redesign has eliminated location check-ins — the feature which first brought Foursquare to prominence. Users looking to check in can now only do so through Foursquare’s separate Swarm app. The new Foursquare is focused on tips and location discovery, as the app aims to find places and things based on a user’s specific tastes. Changes can be seen immediately upon updating, as the app now features a new icon, and a bright pink-and-blue color scheme.